Shaun Donovan, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary, said it is crucial for Congress to approve aid for Sandy victims in order for storm-affected residents to begin planning their rebuilding, WNYC reported. Though immediate concerns, such as getting the displaced back home, are a top priority, long-term issues, such as climate change and where to rebuild, remain as well.

“One of the things the President has made clear to me is we have to rebuild not exactly what was there before,” Donovan told WNYC. “We have to rebuild smarter and stronger to make sure that we minimize the enormous damage to people’s lives and their families and their communities that we saw in this storm.”